Boston City TV, MA City of Boston Cannabis Board, 19 Jan 2022

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From YouTube: Boston Cannabis Board - Voting Hearing - 1/19/2022

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Boston Cannabis Board - Voting Hearing - 1/19/2022

A

We're just going to give it a moment: let people come in from the waiting room.

A

All right, as a reminder, please make sure you mute it.

A

All right good afternoon, this is a hearing before the boston cannabis board. Today is january, 19 2022.. Today's hearing is being conducted pursuant to certain temporary amendments to the open meeting law. That's what allows us to meet virtually this hearing is being recorded and will be posted to the city of boston's website. Before I review some procedural matters, I will introduce cheryl and kathleen choice.

B

Thank you jasmine and thank you everyone for joining us today. My name is kathleen joyce, I'm chair of the boston cannabis board and today I'm pleased to be joined by commissioner john smith, commissioner darlene lombos and commissioner lisa holmes.

A

And my name is jasmine nguyen and I am the boston cannabis board manager. While the public is encouraged to attend, there will be no additional public testimony accepted. I will read each item into the record after I will ask for comments from the board members. I will then ask for if there's a motion, any questions on the motion and then there will be a vote.

A

Each board member has the ability to grant grant with conditions defer, reject without prejudice, which means the applicant can return any time with an application at the same location or reject with prejudice, which means the applicant cannot reapply at the same location for one year.

A

The first item we have is new england, cannabis, corp necc. The license premise is at 204 north beacon street austin brighton. The license type is a recreational cannabis dispensary license. The request is to change the corporate name from new england, cannabis, corp necc to depp ken court. We'll start with comments from the board members chairwoman, joyce.

B

Thank you jasmine. My only comment was, I appreciated the applicant explaining that the new buyer for the larger new england, cannabis corporation has no interest in a retail license at this location. So that is why they're doing the name change. I have no other issues or no other comments.

A

Commissioner smith,.

C

No no comments on this. Thank you.

D

Commissioner, holmes, no no comments. Thank you, commissioner.

E

No no comments thanks.

A

Okay, chairwoman joyce: if there's a motion.

B

um I vote to approve this change as presented by the applicant.

A

Is there a second.

C

A

All in favor aye, aye.

A

Petition is granted.

A

The second matter we have is sarah naturals inc. The license premise is at 829 wilson street back bay. The license type is the recreational cannabis dispensary license. The request is to add the dba, heir chairman joyce. Do you have any comments.

B

um As presented the applicant said, there will be no changes to operations or ownership, so I have no questions or concerns with this request. Commissioner,.

C

Thank you, jasmine no questions or concerns.

A

Commissioner, humboldt.

E

No comments. Thank you.

A

D

Holmes no, no comments. Thank you. Charlemagne joyce.

A

Is there a motion.

B

I make a motion to approve this request for the dba.

A

Is there a second.

E

A

All in favor and not opposed all right, the position is granted all right. Next, we have pure oasis llc. The proposed premise is at eight fun, 85 devonshire street downtown. The license type is a recreational cannabis dispensary license. The proposed hours of operation are 10 a.m to 10 p.m. Seven days a week this is an equity applicant. The initial application was filed on june, 2nd 2021.

A

The date of filing with instructional services was june, 2nd 2021 and the community meeting took place on october 21st 2021 and there is a buffer zone conflict. First, we will start with comments from the board members. Cheryl rejoice.

B

um I don't have many comments. I did appreciate their strong buffer zone statement outlining the reasons why they felt that this application um should be something we move forward despite a buffer zone conflict, it's also an equity applicant, and it's it's really nice to see an equity applicant looking to open up their doors in downtown boston. I think it's something this board.

E

B

To prioritize since our very first meeting.

A

Commissioner smith,.

C

Thank you. I appreciated their uh reading through all the applications and the supplemental material they'll have to continue working with the downtown bid in terms of that closing time and negotiating that, but uh appreciated that presentation, that's it.

B

E

Yes, thank you jasmine. I thought it was a very strong application. I really appreciated the time that they spent in answering questions about um just their one shop. That's already open nice to see a strong track record of a business going into downtown thanks.

E

D

Holmes no questions, just um I reiterate what my fellow commissioners said, and I appreciate the uh bid chiming in and to make sure that, because that was my concern that we we put the same conditions on if granted pure oasis, that we have put on patriot care and the other people have um come before us for downtown.

D

So I think they had a very strong um presentation and, as commissioner lombo says, it's good to see that somebody who has a good track record of business in this industry already um branching out successfully to uh to another location.

A

Shall we rejoice? Is there a motion.

B

uh Yes, I want to make sure I get this correct. I make a motion to grant this application conditional upon um the buffer zone being worked out at cba and um upon their coming to an agreement with the bid on the conditions that were presented to us.

A

And just to be clear, they are the same conditions as patriot care. It's just the closing hour with some discrepancies. So do we want to put a time.

B

I think I think they should continue to meet and before we issue the license, um if we could hear back from both sides um granted conditionally today and before we issue it and add the comm, we wouldn't have the conditions until it was issued. So we can visit those conditions before that. We actually issue the license. Okay,.

A

Any questions on emotion.

A

No questions is there a second a second all in favor and then closed, so the position is granted conditionally pending zone relief for the buffer zone and the physical license will not be issued until the bid and the applicant come to an agreement. As far as the closing hour.

B

Or that the board is comfortable with what the conditions are on the license.

A

Next, we have beacon, compassion, inc, the proposed licensed premises, 1524 vfw, parkway, west roxbury. The license type is a co-located medical and recreational cannabis. Dispensary license the proposed hours are 9 a.m to 9, 00 p.m. Seven days a week. This is a non-equity applicant. The initial date of the application was july. 14 2021, the filing with inspectional services, was april, 10 2019 and the community meeting was october 13 2021..

A

This is currently approved for medical they're, ad and recreational chairwoman. Joyce.

B

uh Thanks jasmine, um you know it was happy to see this applicant before us and I was happy to get an opportunity to hear from them why they were going back for recreational when, in fact, at the beginning of this process, they had only asked for medical. It makes sense to me now that I've listened to the testimony and I've read the letters of support non-opposition that we've received that at the time they started this process with the community.

B

There really wasn't a landscape for cannabis, recreational cannabis at the time to see the community join the hearing and express their support to continue to work with the applicant was refreshing um and um all in all, I think they had a good application, and I, if this does get approved, I urge the applicant to continue to work with the community and to continue to look for support from the abutters and the neighbors in the community at large.

B

A

C

Thank you nothing much else to add. um I was appreciative of the material they sent in on the wages and building out that diversity and equity plan. So thank you so much for the effort that you've made in your presentations.

A

Commissioners,.

E

Not much to add thank you.

D

Commissioner holmes, no additional chairman joyce is the emotion.

B

Yes, um I make a motion to grant this license.

A

Is there a second.

A

A second second all in favor and then opposed.

A

The next applicant we have is mass greenwood's llc. The proposed license: premise is 116, harvard avenue alston. The license type is a recreational cannabis dispensary license. The proposed hours are 10 am to 9 pm 7 days a week. This is the equity applicant. The initial application was filed july 29 2021, the inspectional services found was august, 24 2021 and the community meeting was held december. 29 2021. There is a buffer zone conflict with another cannabis establishment.

A

Chairman joyce.

B

Thanks jasmine just looking over my score sheet, this was a good application. um One of the only things that stuck out for me was this buffer zone. However, I think it's a different, locally owned application. I think it does stand apart from the establishment that creates the buffer zone.

B

While the mayor's office didn't take a position they deferred to us, they did describe that. The community meetings were well attended um and um I don't really have any other comments about their application at this time. Commissioner,.

A

C

Oh good application, you know thank you for the efforts that you made in your presentation.

A

Commissioner, longbows.

E

Yeah, I thought it was a good application strong um I like that they talked about big hope as part of their partnership um were very detailed, so I thought it was a strong application.

E

Commissioner holmes.

D

um I echoed the sentiments of my fellow commissioners. They had a very strong application. I um I was particularly struck by the fact of helping the artist community and using the lobby for gallery space. um I know there was a loss of a lot of artists lofts in austin brighton in the last few years, so um that that's a really good thing and I like to see the cannabis companies. Try really try to immerse themselves in the communities that they're in, and I think offering this outer space is one of those types of ways.

A

B

Chairman joyce is the emotion I make a motion to grant this application a licensed conditional upon zoning release.

A

Is there a second all in favor and not opposed granted pending donor relief.

A

Next applicant, we have is nsa, jl holdings inc. The the license premise is 50 clap street. This license type is a co-located medical and recreational cannabis. Dispensary license the hours proposed are monday through saturday 9 a.m, to 7, 00 p.m and sunday 11 a.m to 6 p.m. This is a non-equity applicant. The initial application was filed on june 25 2021, the date with inspectional services was june, 25th 2021 and the community meeting was held october, 25th 2021.. This is currently approved for medical and they're, adding recreational shareholders.

B

I thought this was a really good application, on top of it being a good application. They had a lot of community support, both from elected officials and their neighbors. It's clear. They want to be good neighbors, and I liked a lot of the aspects of their application. Some of their career pathways stuff stood out to me.

B

I have no issues at all with this application.

A

Commissioner smith,.

C

Thanks much the same, no issues at all. Thank you.

A

Commissioners,.

E

Yep strong application. Thank you.

A

E

A

General joseph, the emotion.

B

I make a motion to grant this applicant to license at this location.

A

Is there a second.

A

A

A

Right next we have enroute llc. The proposed license: premise is for 415 blue hill avenue dorchester, the license type is a co-located marijuana, career and delivery operator license. The proposed hours are monday through saturday 10 a.m, to 9 00 pm and sunday noon to 8 pm. This is the equity applicant. The initial application was filed on june 12 2021, the inspection services filing was july, 2nd 2021 and the community meeting was held october 27 21..

A

There was a buffer zone conflict with another cannabis establishment. Chairman joyce.

B

Thank you jasmine. um I have to bring to this the discussion one of the issues I had at the hearing, um and that was what was presented to the community at the community meeting. At that time the ownership was 51 james finney and um just two weeks before our hearing, the ownership changed to and divested him of a significant portion of his ownership in this application doesn't mean the application changed as far as ideas and business plan, but I do feel as if we.

E

B

Made it a point to say on the record that it's important to at least it's important to me that the community is aware of who is going to be operating. This license and I think at the community meeting the person out front with james finney and now he's 20 owner and while I don't I'm not saying they did anything wrong, they. They met the requirements of being a social equity applicant which opened the doors for this type of license for them in the by them.

B

Putting james finney out in front in late october that got their application moving forward through the board and then two weeks before our hearing. They switched the ownership and added these other people. And I feel as if there's a lot of opposition here from um members of the community, and we owe them an opportunity to sit down with this applicant again and to get a better understanding of who is going to be operating at this location.

B

um And if that is this type of neighborhood, they are taking a vested interest in the businesses that come in there, and I think they should have an opportunity to speak. To the new the four new owners, um because at the time it was the majority owner, was uh mr finney, commissioner,.

A

C

uh I looked at it from the perspective of opening another dispensary, it's a career and delivery service, um and I they had a really strong um community benefits agreement which they worked out with with organizations and folks in the community. So um yeah it was a little bit confusing initially about the ownership and who had the majority ownership they've sent in some documents that have kind of cleared that up so yeah.

C

I was also a little bit surprised at the presentation that you had this 51 owner, but now it's switched so um you know I think they will have to continue to talk to the community about their plans and their development going forward. But overall I like this application.

A

E

um Yeah for me, I actually thought the explanation and the supplemental materials that they provided around the ownership and the explanation did clear it up. For me I was initially confused, but I also think part of that explanation is. um You know, from my perspective, it's to prevent kind of big corporations from using a local person to kind of go through an application process and then later on, you know, take take the profits.

E

So that's what I sort of look at in terms of the ownership, but I do understand that it was confusing and um but I did think that it got cleared up in the supplemental information, and I do just think that this applicant we've seen this applicant come before us several times and they do take they're, just very intentional about the way that they don't just cut and paste everything that they've done in other. You know in their other applications.

E

There's always something new, always something different, and I really appreciate that about this applicant and very detailed on their diversity and inclusion plans and their employment plans really thinking through those. um So I I really really think it's a strong applicant and application and um I don't feel as concerned about the ownership right now.

E

A

D

Hello, okay, so I do think they had a very strong application um and also, as commissioner lombo said, I mean they have been before us uh quite a few times, so they know what we're looking for.

D

My two areas of concern seem were not seen but are sort of on the same line as on the chairwoman. It was the initial ownership change and the initial meetings with the community in which they didn't. Quite I don't feel like they quite explained what they were going to use this building for when purchased, and so it um it just seems I don't know.

D

I just had a little concern about that community meeting where, like the community was told one thing, and then months later we have a whole nother um entity going in there and then the ownership, the 51 and then a week before you come before us, it kind of switches. I mean it just kind of lends itself to a little bit of skepticism on my part. I don't know if it's deserved or not, but it just gives me a sense of needing to know more and wanting to see more and hear more.

D

So I think I have to agree with the chairperson joyce that they need to do some more work in the community and you know present what this ownership and this plan is completely, because I don't feel that they did that a hundred percent in the beginning.

A

Cheryl and jose's their emotion.

B

So I I respect my fellow commissioners um comments and there and I- and I think this is also- I also think it's a strong application. I think we are. We have a certain level of comfort that we've been able to get to with the supplemental materials, and I really think that the community deserves to get to that level of comfort too.

B

At the same time, I don't want to stop this application from moving forward, but I would like to defer it just to give them an opportunity to meet with the abutters and their concerned community members. This doesn't have to be an ons.

B

um What's the word, an ons um sponsored meeting the applicant could do the outreach themselves and meet with these people and answer their questions, because um if we're able to get to that comfort level, I think it's. We owe it to the neighborhood to give them an opportunity to get comfortable with that too. So I know we did this with another equity applicant in charlestown. We asked them to go back and have more processing with the community, and that was because we also want a transportation plan.

B

I think um my vote here would be to defer this application. They could come back right after that next meeting with the community, um and we would take a vote then that wouldn't have to be additional presentation, um but it would give the community an opportunity to get to a certain level of comfort with them. So my vote would be to defer it and we would take um at the next voting meeting. We would take the official uh vote at that point on the application as a whole.

A

Is there a second.

C

So I have a question just a question, so we're deferring it so the community can ask more questions around the ownership, which is the whole.

B

I have no issues with any other part of the application I felt like the community. For me, the community feedback and support was low, and I think that was because there wasn't confidence with the ownership structure.

B

I wasn't comfortable with the ownership structure until we received the follow-up, and I think the people that are presenting at the community meeting are supposed to be the owners and operators of the license of the of the license and at the time that was 51 james, um I'm sorry, I don't have the same way in front of him and now he's not now he's 20 and yes, we know that these are great operators, but I think the community has should be able to meet with them and talk through this with them.

A

Is there any other questions on the motion?

A

Is there a second.

A

A

Okay, two and two so motion does not carry. Is there another motion.

E

um I don't know how to phrase it, but I would like to make a motion to basically do what you said chairman joyce jared women joyce, sorry, but to actually grant it conditionally yeah.

C

E

Another meeting with the about ownership, specifically.

B

Okay, so that would have to be we look at our votes, they also have a buffer zone, so even a buffer zone would be a conditional grant that so would be granted conditional upon zoning relief and a meeting with the neighborhood specifically.

E

On the ownership.

B

Specifically on the ownership okay, um so that means they would not have to come back to us. um Yeah.

A

Next month, right: okay, okay, so the motion is to grant conditionally pending the buffer zone. Variance and an additional community meeting is that the motion commission logos specifically.

E

Created specifically.

C

Specifically on the ownership ownership structure, ownership.

A

Structure is there a second.

A

All right so, commissioner smith, that's a second all in favor. I need all hands.

A

All right, all right, so we're granting this application conditionally pending the buffer zone, variance and another community meeting, specifically around ownership structure.

B

And I would just like to tease that a little bit, I don't think this board. I think they have to have that community meeting before this gets scheduled at the zba.

A

D

I agree with that captain I agree chairperson. They they should have this meeting before we vote.

A

Okay, so that can you make another motion? That's another promotion.

B

So, commissioner, holmes, do you want them to come back to our board.

D

So well after the community meeting and then come back because we need to know what the community how they felt about this second meeting and- and so is it possible?

D

No because I don't know, is it possible to have a community meeting and then we get updated before they go through the buffer zone relief.

B

Well, that's what we could do that would be sort of like a split vote. We would grant it conditionally, but we don't move it forward to zba until we have heard that they've had this meeting. What my question to you is: do you want them? Do you want to um do you want them to appear back on our february agenda, not for further comment and input, but for another discussion as commissioners based upon that meeting.

D

Yes, yes, yes, okay,.

A

That kind of goes back to.

E

D

Oh, that's the first motion that didn't pass.

C

A

Yeah so yeah we.

B

Kind of got back there jasmine. Can you explain, um should we should we grant this conditionally today upon buffer zone conflict? When does it get scheduled for cba.

A

The dba would let us know when their scheduling is so I I would say like a month out. Usually they are so.

D

Is it anything would probably be finished before zba? Is that what you're saying kathleen.

B

Well, we want to be able to attach some strings to that, but they don't get in the zvaq until they meet with the neighborhood correct. Yes, is it our letter jasmine? That starts.

A

The process of dba yeah, so once we grant our licenses, I send an email to zba saying these were granted and then they can get dates with cpa.

D

So when not to hold them up unfairly, is it possible that they can get this community meeting done and get back to us by the next voting meeting.

A

It would depend on how quickly they put together a community meeting.

D

Well, if they wanted to open, wouldn't.

E

D

In their best interest, to put one together fast.

A

D

That is true, because I mean that I think that's viable. I mean I I agree with commissioner joyce that they just got to represent this to the community, because so much opposition what they presented was not what we ended up with last week and although they have a very strong business program and plan here, they don't have any.

D

They don't have any support from the community and and they're definitely gonna have to have that and I'd like to see them get that so I I would hope that we could come to maybe not a complete hundred percent agreement, but some happy medium where we can. You know, move them forward.

C

So I I would say just a little bit of a pushback, I mean they.

C

Yes, there's significant segments of the community, that is in opposition, but they do have some community support because they again reading through that community benefits agreement. They did work with the community organizations and other stakeholders, and I think, since we have, we have seen the supplemental in information where they talked about the leadership structure and how it's broken out. That's the part the community hasn't seen, so I don't feel like. I need to see them again once they present that um to how.

D

Are we gonna know they presented it, commissioner smith, so.

C

I think they have to I mean we have to say you have to hold this meeting and we we need to be informed about what happened at that meeting. um They can send us more. They can send us some information about when the meeting is scheduled. What happened that kind of thing.

A

C

A

Sorry can I just um so, would it work if they do a community meeting, obviously record it and just draft up a brief memo of like how how many people attend it, etc? How the meeting went and that way we'll have video and a brief memo.

C

A

C

I would be fine with that.

D

Yeah, that would work that would be fine.

A

Okay, all right, so I don't even know where we are.

E

I I actually think that motion that we just voted on that said um conditional on the zoning variants, plus a community meeting with a update to the board. There's no need to vote on it again. I think that last vote was okay.

A

And we want them to have this before they appear before the dba.

B

I don't, I don't think our letter should be sent to the zba until.

A

Until we get the community meeting video with the memo.

D

A

Okay, so we're gonna wrap it up again. So the motion is to grant conditionally um via the buffer zone variants. An additional community meeting focused on the ownership structure and they are going to record it and send us a memo of how the community meeting went and then the dba meeting will be scheduled.

A

B

Yeah we don't schedule a cba meeting, then our letter to the cba without our vote will be delivered.

A

Okay, so is there a second on that motion.

A

All in favor and all in favor for all right.

A

Our final item is green. Flash delivery llc the proposed license premise is 225 southampton street roxbury. The license type is a delivery operator license. The proposed hours of operation are 8, am to 9 pm 7 days a week. This is an equity applicant. The initial application was filed on october 13 2021, the instructional services filing was june, 25th 2021 and the community meeting was held on december 20th 2021.

A

B

Thanks jasmine, I'm just taking a quick look at my notes. um This was a very strong application. I really don't have any comments um about the application or the presentation.

C

Commissioner smith, I thought it was fine. I think, when you're presenting before the board, you shouldn't hide some of your presentation because you're working, uh I don't know about whatever but yeah. Overall, it was fine.

A

E

Lombos, I was fine ivory.

A

Commissioner holmes, I agree is that the chairman races their emotions.

B

Yes, um I make a motion to grant this applicant like this type of license at this location.

A

B

A

All in paper perfect and non-opposed all right, so those are the merits before the board. Today, our next hearing is taking place on february, 9th 2022 at 1pm hope everyone enjoys the rest of their evening and we'll see you next month. Okay, thank you. Everybody.